Jacob Kunz Rifle by Art DeCamp

For a long time, it has been a goal of mine to make a Jacob Kunz style rifle with some of my own combinations of carving and detail.  I was able to examine, trace and measure an original owned by a friend and one in my collection.  Ideas from these two rifles were used on this new Jacob Kunz style rifle that I recently completed.  Since there are no accurate Kunz butt or trigger guard castings available, I hammered out a butt plate pattern from another casting and added a little JB Weld for shape.  Next, I worked up an accurate trigger guard pattern from one developed by Mark Wheland and then modified it to match Kunz original parts.  I sent these off as patterns to be sand cast to my specifications. Then using a very light "A" weight .45 caliber swamped Getz barrel I started on the actual rifle, using a stock pattern taken from one of the originals. 

This rifle has mother-of-pearl inlays in the sterling silver cheek piece, black horn inlays in the patch box piercings, a horn inlay for the patch box release button, the Lehigh Indian is inlaid in sterling in front of the trigger guard.  The escutcheon plates for the barrel keys are sterling and the barrel keys are captured.   The lock is an L& R with roller frizzen and waterproof pan. I am proud to say the lock internals were made by the legendary Bob Roller. The wrist of the rifle has "basket-weave" checkering, the relief carving behind the cheek piece is a pattern from another Kunz rifle, and the incised carving behind the rear entry pipe is also Kunz pattern. The piercing in the side plate is filled with a natural white material that was taken off an old piano key. (Can't say what it really is, but you all will know if you think about it. Haha). The rifle shoots very well!

 Copy and photos supplied by Art DeCamp.